Who is This, Really?Slide #1

“I am not AN American,” Sam Clemens once quipped. “I am THE American.”

• Analysis Slide #2

• What mood does this image create for the viewer?

• Inferences

Slide #3

• What can you infer about this person?

• To infer you make an educated guess using context clues.

Steamboat 1800’sM.T. Loved to ride for pleasure down the Mississippi River

• Details Slide #4

• What does this picture tell you about Mark Twain?

• In your opinion what might he be thinking about?

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wzZhbctI4Q

• Evidence Slide #5• Based on what you

saw in the video, why do you think Twain wanted to wait 100 years after he died to publish his autobiography? Do you think he made the right decision? Why or why not?

• Inferences Slide #6

Twain attached a different name to his writings than his given name, Samuel Clemens. Why do you think he decided to do that? Can you think of examples of other authors who have written under different names (pen names)?

• Making ConnectionsSlide #7If you were going to write an autobiography about your life so far, what 2 details would you include? Why?

• KWL Chart Slide #9• Mark Twain, AKA Samuel Clemens,

was an amazing man who lived an adventurous life. Among other things, he was a “pilot” (of a steamboat), an inventor (suspenders!), a printer, a lecturer, a writer, a soldier (for 2 weeks), a miner (for silver) and a traveler.

• He was a man of many contradictions. He grew up in a slave state and came from a slave-owning family, but he loathed slavery (even though he was part of the Confederate Army for 2 weeks!). He often made fun of the wealthy, but did anything he could to get rich. He was angry at the many injustices he saw in the world, but used humor to call attention to them.

• KWL Chart Slide #10• Clemens experienced

many heart-breaking tragedies in his life. His father died when he was only 11. His brother Henry died while working on a steamboat; Samuel got him the job.

• His wife Livy was the sister of his good friend. They had four children together, three of whom died during his lifetime (their only son died when just a baby, one of his daughters contracted spinal meningitis and died, and another daughter drowned). After 34 years together, his wife Livy died as well.

• KWL Slide #11On the night of Samuel

Clemens’ birth in 1835, Halley’s comet appeared as a brilliant streak of light in the sky. In 1910, exactly 75 years later, the comet reappeared, and Clemens died:

“I came in with Halley’s comet in 1835. It is coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it.” He did just that, dying on

April 21, 1910, just as the comet appeared above the horizon.